A former mayor supports Koppel for supervisor
Many of us are disappointed that our government seems plagued by gridlock. Too many elected officials just can't seem to get along with each other well enough to address the important issues confronting our government.
That's why we are supporting Barbara Koppel for Santa Clara County supervisor. Her outstanding ability as a legislator is based on developing strong relationships with her fellow elected officials and working on an issue until there are the votes to make it a reality. When she was mayor of Cupertino, residents benefited on numerous occasions from her ability to forge consensus on different issues. We are confident that she will bring this same skill set to the Board of Supervisors.
Perhaps it's this ability to get people to work together that has caused so many leaders across the political spectrum to endorse Barbara. Her supporters include an extensive list of government, community and business leaders. Her strength is her ability to work with a broad range of leaders and to garner their respect.
We dislike government by paralysis. We need someone like Barbara, who can get things done, as county supervisor.
Rich Napier
former Sunnyvale mayor
School district needs to examine its priorities
In response to your article [Feb. 28] on repairs for city schools, I would like to know why Katherine Petersen did not make a note that the Sunnyvale Elementary School District is building a new building for the administration.
Could the money used to build this new administration building have gone toward the repairs of the local schools? What is more important, the children or the administration staff?
The district needs to look at its budget and improve the local schools before building expensive lodging for its offices. Please write a story on this. We need your help.
Tiziana Rossi
Arlington Court
Petersen's story noted that the district sold its old office and the Benner school site for $10 million. She reported that officials used $2 million to build a new administration building and $8 million to reopen Vargas and San Miguel elementary schools. According to the SESD board, the $2 million spent on the office building was not enough to cover the repairs at the schools in need. --Editor
Prop. 199 would transfer power to politicians
Proposition 199 is misleading. It claims to provide "low-income rental assistance" that protects senior citizens and young families who own their mobile homes. However, it is sponsored by park owners who would be able to raise rents whenever they choose. If the seniors and young families cannot pay their rent, they would lose their equity and their homes.
Proposition 199 would remove more than 80 initiatives and laws passed by voters and local officials. It would prohibit voters and local officials from passing any mobilehome rent protection laws. All power would be given to Sacramento politicians. Don't give more power to politicians. Retain local control.
Proposition 199 would wipe out $300 million in seniors' home equity. Thousands of seniors will be forced out of their homes.
The AARP, the Council for Older Americans and the Congress of California Seniors recommend that you vote no on Proposition 199 on March 26.
H.N. "Woody" Corbett
chairman, Sunnyvale Mobile Home Owners Advisory Council
Increased trafÞc at Moffett Field would drive away resident
Having lived in Sunnyvale on the Moffett Field flight pattern for the last 33 years, I've been following the discussion on the future of the field with great interest.
Yes, we knew we were on the approach when we bought our house. However, the military traffic, mainly P-3's, were not that noisy and flew primarily during working hours. The occasional large jet transport produced an intolerable noise level, but they didn't fly over that often. Bear in mind that our house is five miles from Moffett.
San Jose city government is now working to have commercial air traffic introduced into Moffett to ease the load at San Jose International Airport. One proposal would be to have scheduled flights of cargo jets into Moffett, with traffic starting at 4:30 a.m.
This same city government is trying to decide if it should close Reid-Hillview Airport because it is concerned that the light aircraft, which do not require a long approach and are fairly quiet, are not compatible with a residential neighborhood. Have I missed something?
With Moffett, we are talking about an eight-mile approach over an area that is 90 percent residential, with jumbo jets at all hours! Could it possibly be that San Jose couldn't care less about Sunnyvale?
One other little factor is that during stormy weather conditions the flight pattern is reversed, so these jets would be taking off directly over Sunnyvale with in excess of 300,000 pounds of jet fuel. San Jose seems to have a partial solution to some of these problems--if you turn off the freeway onto Coleman Avenue, going toward San Jose, you'll notice that where there used to be houses there are now empty lots.
Maybe Sunnyvale could try that approach, just bulldoze part of the flight path. However, if Moffett goes to commercial air traffic, it will not be a problem for me, as I'll be gone. I'll miss the house and community that I've enjoyed for the past 33 years. I don't think many of the residents have that option.
Stan Anderes
Kingfisher Way
Thanks for taking time to remember family
I'm taking this opportunity to thank you for the lovely followup article you wrote on my husband, Robert Hughey. We have been contacted by many of our friends and family who saw it in the Feb. 21 edition of The Sun.
Katherine Petersen did a wonderful job telling of Bob's miraculous recovery. On behalf of myself, Bob and our entire family we want to let you know how much we appreciate your thoughtfulness.
We have been contacted by Sunnyvale Southern Little League. They have asked us to attend this year's opening ceremony and throw out the first pitch in memory of our son, Richard. As you know, Richard was very active in our local Little League organization.
As lifelong residents of Sunnyvale, we were impressed that The Sun took the time to remember our family.
Diane Hughey
McKinley Avenue
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, March 13, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.